On My Way Up: A Summer Pilgrimage in the Psalms of Ascent | Psalm 126

Effective learning has 3 components:

1.     Core Information.

2.     Lived Experience.

3.     Practical Application.

The 15 Psalms of Ascent combine core information about who God is and what God does, learned through a lived experience applied to present and future life.

We either take life as it comes (journey) or we live life’s parts as part and parcel of an overarching purpose and a destined path (journey).

Life’s parts are purposeful, each shape our person and direct our path. While we may not understand the parts in the present, they are not random, arbitrary, or disconnected.

Lost = You know what you want out of life, you just don’t know how you got where you are, much less know how to get to where you want to go from there.

Psalm 126

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev.5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

This Psalm breaks into 2 parts:

One Historically Grounded Statement and One Bold Present Ask:

·      Historically Grounded Statement: “God restored our fortunes!”

·      Bold Present Ask: “God restore our fortunes!”

Trustworthiness is established in history. Know your history.

·      Winston Churchill (1948): “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

·      Spanish Philosopher Santayana (1905): "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." 

·      Solomon (900 B.C): “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12

History tells the truth. It is a great teacher because you can’t argue with its outcomes.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Zechariah 4:6-10 6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. 7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” 8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you 10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”
Interpretation: The work was daunting, overwhelming, the obstacles as large as a mountains and yet God promised that it would be the Spirit Himself, the Lord Almighty, who would empower the work! Make no mistake, restoration is a joint effort between God and his people but God is the one who provides the power, we provide the movement!
You know something of significance has happened when those who opposed you and your God now acknowledge the power and goodness of your God!

Bold Present Ask: “God restore our fortunes.”

Application: Our hope rests in God’s past acts.

4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

“…like streams in the Negev” is a visual metaphor for suddenness.

 5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.

When you read “sowing with tears” think investing everything you have, going all in.

Moving through your tears in a hard season is an investment into your future – you are seed sowing.

The 3 laws of sowing and reaping are…

1.     You reap what you sow.

2.     You reap later than you sow.

3.     You reap more than you sow.

This is the promise of this Psalm of Ascent…

Keep sowing, keep moving in those inevitable, unavoidable arid, rugged places, because one day, suddenly, God will release water into your valley! Life is a pilgrimage, God wastes zero seed, especially tears!

6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

“By inviting God into our difficulties, we ground life – even in its sad moments – in joy and hope.” - Henri Nouwen, “Turn My Mourning into Dancing”

Weeping doesn’t have the last word – joy and hope do!

Core Information:

·      God is for you.

·      God has a plan.

·      God is trustworthy.

Lived Experience:

·      I have been through hard, dry, arid places before.

·      I have cried my bottle share of tears.

·      I have shaken my head and have exclaimed, “God, how did you pull that off!”

 Practical Application

·      I will walk out this pilgrimage in faith.

·      I will walk out this pilgrimage in hope.

·      I will walk out this pilgrimage in joy.

The beauty of suddenly is it comes out of nowhere. To get a suddenly you have to keep sowing in your “nowhere”.

 Are you in a “nowhere” place today? God’s history secures your future.